Ruyam

I was traveling alone and wanted a budget choice in Kadikoy (Asian side near the ferry) and considered a single with shared WC at Ruyam Otel verses a dorm bed in a hostel. I read the other reviews for Ruyam and found them accurate. Per the instructions on Ruyam's website, I arrived via the E10 bus from SAW, walked the short three blocks to the hotel and the lobby attendant was waiting for me. It was 1AM. He greeted me politely. He asked for payment in Lira and I began to inadvertently hand him a 10 Euro note mixed in with my Lirasi for the exact amount. He could have easily tucked it away but instead pointed out my error. My 4 meter by 4 meter room (101) had a meter wide single bed, a wardrobe and nightstand with water kettle and a old TV mounted on the wall. Sheets looked clean as did the room in general. The only outlet in the room was by the door which meant I would have to move the nightstand with the water kettle to it to plug in. The doorknob lock on the door looked a little iffy but otherwise it seemed like a secure place. My room had heat but no AC or fan - great this time of year (March). Shared WC had lockable doors on the toilet room and shower room. No room to hang anything in the shower but piping hot water worked great. The wifi worked very well! I was able to leave my luggage in the lobby until I left Kadikoy in the evening. Staff was helpful and spoke a smattering of English. Other guests I saw inside the hotel appeared to be Turkish men (no women). A single woman staying here alone might feel in the minority but probably as safe as anywhere. Negatives: - About 2AM, music began blaring from a nearby business - normally this would have kept me awake. Not that night. - Cigarette smoke drifted in under my door either from a neighboring room or from the lobby below.